Improved folding- bureau-bedstead



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D. B. MAYNARD, OFWORCESTER, MASSACHU'SETT1S.

Letters Patent No. 85,232, dated December 22, 1868'.

IMPROV'IIID AFOLDING- BUREAU-BBDSTEAD.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

Know all men by these wesents: a

That I, D. B. MAYNAnn, of the city and county of Worcester, and Cominomvcalth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Bureau-Bedsteads; and'I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in wheh- Figure l represents` a perspective view of my burezm-bedstead,` as it appears when folded in the form 'of' a bureau Figure 2 represents a perspective view of my bureau-bedstead, as -it appears when opened. to be used as a bed;

Figure-3 represents a front view of my invention,

,of the parts of a bedstead, whereby the same may be folded into the form of a bureauor secretary, when not in use, as hereafter explained.

Second, in the combination, with the parts of afolding bed of a movable bottom beneath the centre or foldingpoint of the mattress, as hereafter explained.

Third, in the combination of mechanism with the bed, for lowering and raising the movable bottom when the bed is folded and unfolded, as hereafter set forth.

Fourth, in the combination,with the mattressand bedstead, ofthe peculiarly-constructed coiled-wire springs for supporting the mattress, as hereafter explained.

Fifth, in a folding bureau-bedstead, the parts of which are constructed and arranged to beoperated in relation to cach other, substantially as shown and hereafter described.

In the drawings, the part marked A is the base of the frame, made in the form of an oblong boX, oppn at the top. v

'lhere are secured to its upper edges, at i'ont and rear, by the hinges d, folding eases B B', so arranged that when brought together they form a complete cabinet or bureau.

The rear folding case B' has upon its top a small frame, O, in the bottom part of which, near its front edge, is a pin, b, that projects downward, and when the cases B B' are closed, retains them in that position by passing through an opening in' the metallic plate c, upon the top of the front case B.

' The frame C is arranged, b r means of hinges d, so

that its front side may he raised to draw the pin b from the opening c, when the cases B B' are to be opened.

It is prevented from rising. too far, by the screw or pin c, that passes through a hole in the top of case B', and is secured in the bottom of the flame C, the hole in the top of the case being large enoughtoallow the screw orpin to work freely, but not large enough to admit of the passage of its head.

A coiled-wire spring, j, is placed around the pin or y screw e, forthe purpose of keeping the front part of the frame G pressed firmly on to the top of the front ease B, and to prevent the pin I; from being accidentally thrown out of the opening, and allowing the cases to separate.

Drawers D are arranged Ain the frame C, and the front folding case B and base A are panelled andfurnished with knobs, to represent the front of' drawers, while the other parts are finished in lan appropriate manner, so that, when folded together, the article resembles in appearance an ordinary bureau.

Beneath the top boards ofthe ibldingcases B Bf are strips of wood E, secured by means of a pivot at.

their ends, and arranged in such a manner that they can be swung outward to form legs, E, for supporting`l .the cases 4B B when opened, as shown in the drawings, figs. 2 and 5. l

Apertures m are formed through the' bottom, A', of the base, A, and through the cases B B', for the purpose of ventilation and the base, A, may be mounted upon casters or stands y, to admitof its being easily moved, and to allow a free passage for the air beneath it.

In the interior of the base, A, is arranged a movable bottom, F, furnished with side-pieces F'. It is con nected to the folding cases B B' by means of strips of metal, G, bolted or screwed to the outside of the sidepieces F', and to the inside of the folding cases B B', in such a manner that when the cases are folded, the bottom, F, is lowered into the baise, A, as-indcated in iig. 4, but when the cases are opened it is brought up to a level with the top of base, A, as shown lin g. 5 of the drawings. v

Small blocks t' are iixed to the edges of the, base,A, which t into openings, h, in the lower. edges of the folding cases, for the purposeof preventing the latter from being sprung out of place when closed.

Strips of board, H, are placed around the inside of the folding eases B B and end-pieces F of the mova- Ible bottom, and to the edge of said strips is fastened the cloth I, upon which the mattress K rests.

Knobs s are fixed to the strips H, at thev ends of the mattress, to which the latter is secured by means of loops, to prevent the possibility of its sliding down when the cases are folded together.

The loops are fastened to the edge of the mattress K, and placed over they knobs s, as shown ,in .the chawings.

Upon the inside of the folding cases B B', and also upon the movable bottom F, are secured peculiarlyconstructed coiled-wire springs M, for supporting the mattress K and bedding, those upon the movable bottoni F being longer and heavier than the others, as they are subject to greater pressure, being at the central portion of the bed, and having to support nearly the full weight of the mattress K and bedding, when the bed is folded.

The springs M are formed as shown in iig. 6, having at the bottom a straight projection, N, which is fitted into thewood to hold the spring in'plaee, and the coils increase in circumference as they extend upward, the last coil being finished by forming a loop, t, at the end of the wire, around the previous coil, as shown in the drawings.

In lieu of finishing the front to resemble a bureau, if desirable, itmay be finished in the form of a secrtary, as shown in fig. 3 of the drawings. Y

A folding shelf, L, is hinged to the top, which may be turned hack and supported upon the legs E, they beingdrawn out for the purpose, and the panels in the front made to represent doorsinstead of drawers.

A book-case may be fastened to the wall of the room, at the `proper height, and the bed, when folded up, moved to stand beneath it, the'reby making a very beautiful piece of furniture. In this form, itis very convenient and well adapted for office-use, .vhercpersons wish to sleep in their oices.

The bottom, A', of the base, A, may be dispensed with, if desired, and the base left Vopen for the free passage of the l The movable bottom or drop F maybe made of slats, and, instead of being supported as shown in the drawings, it may be thrown up by springs, or cammechanism; and the'bed may be made without the springs M, spring-slats being substituted therefor, or the mattress may be allowed to rest directlyy upon the backs of the cases.

The centre of the mattressmay also` be supported by means of sacking, ropes, straps, or even by pieces of wire, the ends being fastened to the folding eases B B', so that when 'the cases are open, the centre of the mattress will be raised or elevated into the proper position for a bed, and when the cases are folded together, the centre 0r folding point of the mattress will be allowed to drop or descend into the base or recep.

tacle A,

It will be observed that one great peculiarity of my folding bedstead consists in obtaining the required length by two folds from a central base, as fully indicated in the drawings.

By the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have invented a bedstead that is well calculated to meet the wants of persons living in small tenements, as it may bc folded into small space when not used as a bed, making an ornamental piece of furniture for a sitting-room,and, unfolded, it forms a luxurious bed, thereby econamizing a large amount of space.

It may also -be advantageously used for a sick-bed, as the ends can be raised, furnishing any desired elevation or inclinatimi ofthe. header feet of the patient that may be required.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that some of the parts of my bureau-bedstead may be combined together in a somewhat different manner, without departing from the principlel of my invention. The base and cases may be -made of different forms, and yet be hinged, relatively to each other, substantially in the same manner.

Having described my improved folding bureau-bed stead,

What I claim therein as new and of my invention,4 and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, with the base, A, and folding rases B B-, of the movable drop orbottom F, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination, with the folding cases B Bf, mattress K, and drop, of the springs M, substantially as set forth and described.

The combination, with the -cases B B and movable bottom or drop F, of hinged arms or connections G, substantially set forth. i

4. The combination, with the folding .bedsteath of a mattress, together with the devices for raising and supporting the centre of the same, substantially as describedLwhereby, when the bedstead is folded up, the centre ofthe mattress will be depressed,and when the bedstead is unfolded will be elevated or raised and supported, for the purposes stated.

5. The combination, with a folding bedstead, of a central base or receptacle, to receive the centre ofthe mattress, and the suppciting-devices thereof, when the bedstead is folded up, substantially in the. manner shown and described.

6. The combination, with the cases B B', of the hinged top C, and its .holding-pin and spring, together with the locking-devices, arranged substantially as and"V for the purposes stated.

D. B. MAYNARD. Witnesses:

Trios. H. Dorien, D. L. MILLER. 

